Moving display apparatus



Oct. 26, 1937.

A. c. s. EFmAuuDsEl MOVING DISPLAY APPARATUS Y Filed May 22', 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @NW AW", o

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Oct. 26, 1937. A. c. s. ERLANDSEN 2,097,148

MOVING DISPLAY lAPPHR'IS l I Filed May 22, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES MOVING DISPLAY APPARATUS Alfred Charles Sejer Erlandsen,

Copenhagen,

Denmark, assigner to Geo. W. `Brady & Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81,2287. In Denmark May 26, 1935 2 Claims.

Moving-display apparatus can be used for the display of a series of pictures or a message of considerable length, for advertising and other purposes. Since the moving band bearing the images to be displayedmust be fed through the mechanism hour after hour and day after day, it is important that the mechanism be so constructed that interruptions in its operation cannot occur. The chief diiculty to be avoided is binding and snarling of the moving band.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an efciently-operating and reliable movingdisplay apparatus. More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the cover thrown back; Y

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure l; K

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the apparatus taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section take-n on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

These specific drawings and the'specic description that follows are to disclose and illustrate the invention and are not to impose limitationsV upon the claims.

In general the apparatus comprises a device for propelling the display band and a device for receiving a coil of the band that has passed a propelling means, the latter device being rotated at such a speed that the linear speed of the portion thereof in contact with the band as it enters the device is greater than the speed at which the propelling device moves the band. The coil receiving device is preferably a rotatable platform having a roller mounted rotatably upon the central portion thereof.

Since the coil receiving device tends to move the band faster than it is fed by the propelling device, the band must necessarily slip where it contacts the receiving device or platform. It is kept stretched tightly between the propelling and receiving devices however, and any slack that occurs between these devices is quickly taken up. The roller keeps the coil from beingpulled out of proper position on the platform by the tension that exists between the coil and the propelling device and a retaining bar encircling the coil may be provided as an additional precaution.

Inorder to prevent the band from being fed from the receiving devicefaster than it is fed by the propelling device, a guide may be used for leading the band away from the coil that provides suflicient friction to prevent the band from being fed from the coil when there is `no tension on the part of theband that has passed the guide. Then if the display band is endless it may be propelled by a sprocket or other positively gripping device that draws it through the guide from the coil. 10

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is contained in a Wooden housing Illmounted upon a base II (see Figure 4) that is supported by rubber feet I2 screwed to the base. The top of the housing is hinged to the rear wall thereof. 15 Upon the base I I is bolted a driving unit I3 containing a motor and reduction gearing, which drive a double pulley I4 fixed on a shaft I5 that extends from the top of the driving unit I3. One belt I6 driven by the double pulley I4'is passed around a single pulley I'I (see Figurel 2,) that is xed upon a vertical shaft I8 having its upper end journaled in a bearing pressed into a wooden cross piece` I 9 that bridges the top of the housing,

and its lower end journaled in a step bearing 20 25' secured to thebase I I.

Fixed on the vertical shaft I8 isa double sprocket 2| for driving an endless filmV 22 that constitutes the display band. A guide roller 23, journaled on a vertical spindle 24 xed to the ,30 base II, is used tohold the film 22 against the double sprocket 2|. At the front corners of the housing the lm passes around rollersv 25 rjournaled upon vertical pins identical with the spindle 24 that carries the guide roller 23. As it 35 passes between the rollers 25 the lm 22 travels over a glass window 26 (see Figure 4) that extends across the front of the housing. To hold the film 22 in place behind the window 26, a pair of guide bars 21 are provided extending the length 40 of the window and secured to the inside of the housing. Y

A reflecting sheet of metal 2B, which may be of any Ydesired color, is supported at an angle to the front of the housing Ill upon two brackets 29V that are screwed at their lower ends to the housing I0, and attheir upper ends to a center bar 3llextending across the top ofthe housingY and between the cross piece YI5! and a similar cross piece 3l at the other end. Electric lamps 32,50 supported by` means of brackets` 33 over a slot that extends along the top of the housing above the reflecting sheet 28, are used to illuminate Y the film. The light is thrown downward fromY the lamps by means of a reflector 34, which also projects light backward upon objects resting on socket 3E are used to connect both the lamps and the driving motor with the supply line,

A platform 31 for receiving the coil of lm is made of hard rubber or other suitable material and is screwed to a metal backing plate 38 fixed upon a vertical shaft 39. A step bearing 40 for the shaft 39 extends upward through an aperture in the base I I and is screwed to the bottom of the base, and the upper bearing 4I for the shaft is pressed into the center bar 30. Fixed on the shaft is a single pulley 42 driven by means of a belt 43 from the double pulley I4. A wooden roller 44 of substantial diameter rests upon the platform 31 and ts loosely around the vertical shaft 39.

To hold the coil of film in place upright brackets 45 are screwed to the base II and extend over the coil, and 'a curved retaining bar 46 is screwed to the rear wall of the housing and encircles the coil. AThe guide 41 for leading the lm out of the coil is adjustably secured to a cross bar 48 extending between the center bar 30 and the rear wall of the housing. The supporting bracket 49 (see Figures 3 and 5) for the guide 41 is screwed to the upper wooden guide piece 50. A metal cover plate 5I extends along the upper edge of the upper guide piece 5i), and is screwed to the upper guide piece and to a lower wooden guide piece 52 parallel thereto. The intermediate portion of the guiding surface of the lower guide piece 52 is hollowed out as shown in Figure 3, and the guiding surfaces of both pieces are covered with felt to protect the film. As the lm leaves the guide 41, it is supported by the upper arm of one of the vertical brackets 45, which is likewise covered with felt. Between the sprocket 2| and the platform 31 a roller 53 is provided to guide the film which is identical with the rollers 25.

In the operation of the apparatus the driving unit I3 rotates the sprocket 2l and platform 31 by means of the belts and pulleys. As the lm is fed forward by the sprocket, it is drawn forward to the platform by reason of the rotation thereof, the linear speed of the platform immediately below the periphery of the roller 44 being greater than the linear speed of the teeth on the sprocket 2i. Since the outer turns of lm in the coil tend to travel at a greater linear speed than the inner turns, the coil is kept expanded upon the platform. If considerable slack develops between the platform and the rst roller 25, the friction provided by the guide 41 prevents the lm from being fed out of the coil until the slack has been taken up. In the meantime, the coil keeps itself expanded to its maximum possible diameter and there is no binding caused by tightening of the coil.

Changes may be made in the illustrated apparatus and various devices embodying the substance of the invention may be constructed to meet Various requirements.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a display band, means for propelling the band, a platform to receive a coil of the band that has passed the propelling means, means for rotating the platform at such a rate that the linear speed of the portion of the platform that contacts the entering band is greater than the speed with which the propelling means moves the band, a roller of substantial diameter in relation to the width of the band, rotatably mounted on the platform inside the coil, and a retaining bar encircling the coil on the platform.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tilted guide bracket for a display band, comprising a cover plate, an upper guide piece, and a lower guide piece, arranged parallel to the upper guide piece and having the intermediate portion of its guiding surface hollowed out.

ALFRED CHARLES SEJER ERLANDSEN.

UJI 

